On that fateful, winter afternoon in Massachusetts, back in January in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs, as the Houston Texans were trotting to the locker room at halftime, C.J. Stroud had just thrown four interceptions. At that moment, regardless of the outcome of the game, you could already predict the magnitude of Stroud’s future as an offseason topic.
Two years ago, it felt like a lock that we would all be celebrating a long term contract extension for Stroud, who was just months removed from winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Players who do that typically are “no brainers” to reward with market setting riches. However, despite the Texans’ consistently winning and making the postseason on Stroud’s watch, Stroud individually has regressed as a player. Silence has replaced anticipation when it comes to a new deal.
Stroud’s perplexing situation, in a strange way, is augmented by the fact that his teammate and draft classmate, Will Anderson — Stroud was selected second overall, Anderson third, in 2023 — received a record setting deal for a non-quarterback just months ago. Anderson got paid, Stroud has not gotten paid, and that’s all you need to paint a picture of where the Texans stand with each.
So, as training camp kicked off on a steamy Wednesday morning on Kirby Drive, the general assumption heading into camp was that Stroud and the Texans would roll on for another year under his current contract, and see where it goes this season. However. in each of their press conferences Wednesday morning, GM Nick Caserio and Stroud both dropped hints that there are embers burning in the contract discussion fire pit.
First, Caserio, speaking with the media before practice, said this when asked about contract talks with Stroud’s camp: “It’s probably the best offseason [Stroud has] had since he’s been here. He’s had a good attitude. He’s been consistent. He’s got the right mindset. I’d say we’ve definitely had productive conversations over the course of the spring. So, I mean, there’s a possibility that something could come to fruition. So, we’ll work through it and see what happens.”
I think it was widely assumed that the talks were either very tepid or nonexistent between the two sides. Mentioning “productive conversations,” assuming Caserio is accurately portraying the talks, is significant.
Fast forward to later in the morning, post practice, and here was Stroud when asked about contract possibilities: “I’m focused on ball, trying to just hold my bargain down on just the football side and do what I can, what I should be doing as quarterback of this team, so I’m letting [his agent and Caserio] handle it and seems like everything is going great.”
Okay, according to Stroud, on the contract front, everything is “going great.” I think it’s safe to assume that a “great” negotiation involves ultimately signing a new deal, not maintaining status quo.
Adding these two cuts together, it feels like a situation, a new deal for Stroud, which many felt was left for dead on the field in Foxboro in January, may have life. Caserio made a point later in the press conference that the media doesn’t get to see everything the team does behind the scenes, when it comes to players and how they conduct themselves. Stroud’s offseason since that awful January day has been lauded by Caserio, coaches, and teammates.
As far as the structure and amount of a new contract for Stroud, that might deserve its own article. The range of what that could look like, in years and money, is wide, but buckle up, Texan fans — the McNairs might be writing more big checks this offseason.
